Hike/Event Location: Yuma AZ
Trip Leader(s)
Meeting Time: 5:00 PM
Max # People: 12
Hike Guiding / Event Fee: No, I will not be asking participants for money
Hike Difficulty Level:
Easy
(Do you qualify to attend with this hike difficulty rating? Click Here.)
You must be a least a guest member to participate. Comments such as "+1" or "bringing a friend" are NOT permitted. All participants must sign-up for the event individually.
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The Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is an overlooked jewel in southwestern Arizona, offering a stunning combination of wildlife and scenery.
Though you might assume the name is of native origin, “Kofa” is actually a contraction of “King of Arizona” – one of the many gold and silver mines scattered across its desert landscape. Though mining has been hit-and-miss, the area’s real treasure is its wildlife. The refuge is one of the last strongholds of the endangered bighorn sheep and Sonoran pronghorn antelope. Coyotes, javelina, badgers, and mountain lions also call Kofa home.
This two-night car camping trip samples some of the best that Kofa has to offer: close-up views of its formidable mountains and wildlife together with wide vistas across the desert. Campers can enjoy hikes like nearby Palm Canyon - the only native fan palm oasis in Arizona – while astonishing 360-degree views reward those who dare the long drive and steep, rocky climb to 4,877-foot Signal Peak. The refuge’s expansive network of dirt roads also invites exploration, while the evenings are perfect for a campfire under the stars. Late October typically means the end of the desert heat, so we’ll enjoy balmy high temps in the 80s and lows in the 50s.
We’ll be camping during the last quarter of the Hunter’s Moon, making for ideal dark skies for stargazing and UFO hunting. The area is renowned for its dark skies and peace and quiet, so RVers will be asked to avoid generator use between 7pm and 7am.
This trip will be by individual commissary, and we’re not planning any shared meals, so please plan to provide your own supply of food and water.
This trip is strictly dependent upon a favorable weather forecast. A National Weather Service forecast of rain within 72 hours of our start will cancel this trip, as will fewer than three confirmed signups as of 8:00pm, Wednesday, October 23.
We’ll meet at the easterly terminus of rocky but well-graded Palm Canyon Road, the turnoff for which is about 20 miles south of Quartzsite, Arizona on State Route 95, at 5:00pm on Friday, October 25. At a turnout just before the Palm Canyon trailhead parking lot, look for a white SUV with a pride flag
Outdoor Fitness Level: Strenuous
Outdoor Fitness Level: Easy to Moderate
